Omar Abdullah to serve defamation notice on Mehbooba Mufti

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he would serve defamation notice on opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti for levelling allegations of murder against him, his father Farooq Abdullah and state Minister Nasir Aslam Wani.

Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference on the lawns of the state legislature in Srinagar, Omar said: "The leader of the single largest opposition party in the state has leveled serious allegations against me, my father, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani."

"I will not respond to these allegations. My lawyers will respond to her through a defamation notice."

"Before this also, the PDP had levelled allegations against us and they had to later apologise for those allegations."

Omar said the judicial probe into the Sep 30 death of National Conference worker Sayeed Muhammad Yousuf should be allowed to be completed and the people must wait for the findings of the probe.

"Last week two workers of the party came to me and raised allegations against the third worker," Omar recalled. "I called all the three to find out the truth since the allegations were of a serious nature. I called the MOS home to be present, and after that all the three were handed over to the state crime branch."

Sayeed Muhammad Yousuf, a ruling NC worker, died allegedly in police custody here Sep 30.

The state government has requested the chief justice of the state high court to nominate a sitting judge to probe the circumstances that led to the death of the NC worker. Omar requested the media not to base their reports on allegations.

"If anyone among you knows the facts, then please place those before the inquiry commission or present them before the people. Please do not base your reports on allegations," he said.